Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

As we just discussed, owning your own business can actually be quite good for your bottom line.  The most obvious asset is being in control of your company's assets, of course.  One of the easily forgotten benefits (perks?) of being the owner of a small business is the ability to better control the effects of your job on your health.  Are you spending time worrying about possible layoffs at work?  Would you be happier and more fulfilled if you were "in charge" of your own career?

Apart from dumping stressed-filled hours stuck in commuting-hour traffic, other aspects of being your own boss are positive, especially if you choose to work from home.  For some, the potential stress of marketing yourself as a freelancer or independent contractor is outweighed by the ability to make your own schedule, answer only to yourself and your clients (as opposed to a corporate management team), and work around your family's needs rather than carving out precious minutes from the work week when your boss "lets" you do so.

Consider also that if you have special health needs, you are the one best trained in meeting those needs and most capable of making changes to your environment.  For instance, individuals with severe allergies can create a home-office that provides comfort and safety by incorporating nontoxic materials into their space.  Folks who require special diets or who prefer organic meals are able to stock their cupboards as necessary and not worry about what's for sale in the company cafeteria or whether they'll remember to grab their hand-packed lunch on the way out the door.

Entrepreneurs who choose to focus on fitness usually do make the time to work out no matter where they "work", but imagine how much easier it would be to go for a run on the treadmill when it's in your family room, just a few steps down the hall from your office!  If your focus is on incorporating family fun and fitness, all the better.  Schedule a conference call with some clients then hit the park with your kids for a stress-release and some family time, all wrapped into one.

For those who are concerned about the environment and who have worked for companies in the past that are um, shall we say, not so concerned, being in control of the supplies purchased (from recycled paper to energy efficient office equipment) is another positive point.  Suffering from guilt over your "footprint"?  Go ahead and install CF light bulbs in the whole house...and you've converted your company headquarters in the same sweep!  Cutting down on your commute means fewer miles on your vehicle, fewer gallons of gas, and fewer twinges of guilt if that's an issue you wrestle with.  It almost goes without saying that a green business offers loads of positive PR opportunities as well.

Don't forget that any small business can take advantage of these concepts.  You don't have to be "stuck" at home to garner the benefits of owning a small business, whether they be emotional, financial or environmental.  If you're already operating a small- or home-based business, I'm preaching to the choir.  But if you're still in the "should I or shouldn't I?" stage...this could be your year!